Drought conditions are worsening and expanding across most of the Southeast region. According to the Oct. 23 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, extreme drought is present in western Alabama, southern Georgia and northern Florida.
While most of Alabama is experiencing some level of drought conditions, the driest part of the state is in the western part of the state. Extreme drought starts as far south as Choctaw, Clarke and Wilcox counties, expands as far east as Dallas and Perry counties and as far north as Greene, Pickens, Hale, Bibb and Tuscaloosa counties. A small area in Chilton and Shelby counties is extremely dry as well.
Moderate drought encompasses most of southern and central Alabama, while abnormally dry conditions are observed in northern Alabama.
Southwest Georgia remains the driest part of the state. Extreme drought conditions are seen in Seminole, Miller, Decatur, Baker, Mitchell, Grady, Thomas, Colquitt, Brooks, Lowndes, Echols, Cook, Worth and Tift counties. A small area in Northwest Georgia is also extremely dry, including Pike, Meriwether, Spalding, Coweta, Fayette, Fulton, Clayton and Henry counties.
Moderate drought encompasses the majority of Georgia.
The northern region of Florida is the driest part of the state, with extreme conditions being reported in Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Gadsden, Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton and Suwannee counties. The rest of the Florida Panhandle is either moderately dry or severely dry.
Abnormally dry conditions are observed along the west coast, starting in Levy and Citrus counties and stretching southward to Collier and Monroe counties.